I am hoping to sort out getting the Monte Carlo this weekend, but have a Pioneer DEH stereo and speakers fitted to my 2000 skoda fabia that I'm keen to keep.

Would I be able to fit them to the Monte Carlo, or should I avoid tampering at all costs?

Not sure about fitting but IMO the monte speakers are good enough not to change

IMO the head unit seems to have quite a reasonable output stage - can feel quite a bit of LF movement on the outside door skins where the speakers are.

I was wondering how much improvement could be had from lining an area of the outside skin behind the speakers with a heavy-weight damper and then going over the inside door skin also (or at least with dynamat or similar).

Failing that an under-seat sub might help, it's surprising how effective they can be.

Just my 2p!

There are some very interesting threads on sound proofing and speaker/head replacement in the ICE section, worth checking out!

I know nothing about aftermarket car stereos, but to my mind the Swing with 8 speakers in my greenline is the best factory fit 'standard' stereo I've come accross by some margin, however it is somewhat let down by trim rattles -but that's the car not the stereo. The MDI is great -the only thing missing is DAB radio reception.

My last car a 20k Volvo had a terrible stereo, and it couldn't be changed. There was an upgraded stereo option to order when the car was built in the factory, but that was £1300 extra. Skoda is like a breath of fresh air.

You need an iso to quad lead for the pioneer headunit, an adapter for the aerial and a adapter plate to fit into the double din, it's the same as the vw golf mark 5, only cost a few quid each for these parts or you can buy the kit from a dealer (but costs a lots more) standard stereo isn't bad for oem, but if you're into hi fi...once you've put some decent speakers in and get used to it, the standard stereo sounds terrible, worse of all the lack of time alignment..one speaker always sounds closer than the other side.

Edited 12 January, 201214 yr by fabia55

All the info you need re wires, adaptors, facia plates etc in in my tech post.......linky.....

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/196288-oem-wiring-loom-colours-pins-for-stereos/

Thanks everyone. Had my test drive, it's not bad like you say, but still tempted to change it.

Thanks for the help fabia55, sounds pretty simple.

Looking forward to getting it now!

Thanks everyone. Had my test drive, it's not bad like you say, but still tempted to change it.

Thanks for the help fabia55, sounds pretty simple.

Looking forward to getting it now!

you're welcome,

if you do decide to upgrade the stereo, make you you get it done properly at a reputable installer, and make sure they don't hack into the original wiring (by using a quad lock to iso lead for the aftermarket headunit) so it can all be returned back to original.